Kenya lose to Dada-led India

India made one change to their playing eleven – Anil Kumble made way for Ajit Agarkar. Kenya made four changes to the (Pat)eleven that last played the Indians – Maurice Odumbe, the Obuya brothers (David and Collins) and Aasif Karim made way for a couple of One-day International debutants (Ragheb Aga and Morris Ouma), Brijal and Tony Suji.

On winning the T(ikol)oss, Steve, Kenya’s skipper, inserted the Indians. Virender Sehwag, whose 27-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 17. Fifty-five balls into the match, Thomas Odoyo broke the 30-run stand.

India scored 50 off 13.5 overs. While Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper and the player of the match, was batting on 3o at that point, V V S Laxman was batting on three. They put on 50 off 65 balls. India scored 100 off 22.5 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 47 at that point, Laxman was batting on 24.

Ganguly’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 79 balls. He and Laxman put on 100 off 119 balls. India scored 150 off 33.3 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 77 at that point, Laxman was batting on 44. The latter’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 72 balls. They put on 150 off 168 balls.

Ganguly, whose 124-ball (Mart)innings included eight boundaries, eventually scored 90. A hundred and seventy-six balls later, Suji broke the 161-run partnership. India scored 200 off 40.1 overs. While Laxman was batting on 70 at that point, Yuvraj Singh was batting on eight.

Yuvraj, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary, scored nine. Nineteen balls later, he was caught by Kennedy Otieno. Odoyo broke the 13-run stand. Laxman, whose 99-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 79. Nine balls later, he was stumped by Otieno. Tikolo broke the nine-run stand.

Mohammad Kaif, whose 29-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 49. He was unbeaten, as was Rahul Dravid, who scored 30. His 16-ball innings included three boundaries and the only six of the innings.

Kenya conceded 16 extras. India scored 290 for the loss of four wickets off 50 overs. Tony and Patel bowled three wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 25, the latter conceded 21. Peter Ongondo, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 27. Aga, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 70.

Tikolo and Martin bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 53, the latter, whose spell included a couple of maidens, conceded 42. Odoyo bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 43, picking up a couple of scalps.

Kenya’s openers put on nine. Otieno, who faced nine balls, didn’t get off the mark. Twenty-five balls into the chase, Kaif ran him out. Tikolo, who faced 10 balls, scored a couple. Sixteen balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Irfan Pathan, who broke the four-run stand.

Hitesh Modi, whose 10-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Thirteen balls later, he was caught by Ganguly. Pathan broke the eight-run stand. Ravindu Shah, whose 53-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 33. Fifty-two balls later, he was caught by Dinesh Karthik. Harbhajan Singh broke the 37-run stand.

Aga, who faced three balls, didn’t get off the mark. Nine balls later, he was caught by Ganguly. Harbhajan broke the four-run stand. Odoyo, who faced 42-ball innings included a boundary, scored 15. Twenty-seven balls later, he was caught by Karthik. Harbhajan broke the 12-run stand.

Ouma, whose 93-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 49. A hundred and twenty-eight balls later, he was caught by Karthik. Agarkar broke the 92-run partnership. Patel, whose 77-ball innings included a boundary, scored 40. He was unbeaten, as was Martin, who had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored half-a-dozen.

India conceded 42 extras. Kenya, who scored 192 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs, lost by 98 runs. Yuvraj, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 17. Ganguly, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 21.

Ashish Nehra bowled seven wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 17. Sehwag bowled eight wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 32.

Agarkar, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 42. He picked up a wicket. Pathan bowled half-a-dozen overs, including a maiden. He conceded 11, picking up a couple of wickets. Harbhajan bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 33, picking up three scalps.

Incidentally, it was the last time India played the East African outfit.

    









  

Dada lE(ngl)a(n)ds India to win

India made three changes to their playing eleven – Rohan Gavaskar, Ajit Agarkar and Lakshmipathy Balaji made way for One-day International Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehra. England made just one change to their playing eleven – Andrew Flintoff made way for Anthony McGrath.

On winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper and the player of the match, chose to bat. V V S Laxman, whose 27-ball innings included a boundary, scored nine. Forty-six balls into the match, Steve Harmison, the player of the series, broke the 24-run stand.

The second-wicket pair put on 22. Mohammad Kaif, who faced 10 balls, scored a couple. Thirty-five balls later, Paul Collingwood and Geraint Jones ran him out. Virender Sehwag, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Three balls later, he was caught by Ashley Giles, who broke the two-run stand.

India scored 50 off 14.4 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 30 at that point, Rahul Dravid hadn’t opened his account. When India notched up their 100, the former’s contribution was an unbeaten 62, and the latter was batting on 16.

Ganguly, whose 119-ball innings included five boundaries and three sixes, eventually scored 90. A hundred and thirty-four balls later, he was caught by Michael Vaughan, England’s skipper. Harmison broke the 93-run stand.

India scored 150 off 38.1 overs. While Dravid was batting on 30 at that point, Yuvraj Singh was batting on four. The latter, who faced a dozen balls, eventually scored nine. Twenty-eight balls later, he was caught by Giles. Alex Wharf broke the 29-run stand.

Karthik, who faced a dozen balls, scored a run. Eighteen balls later, he was caught by Jones. Harmison broke the 11-run stand. Harbhajan Singh, who faced a ball, didn’t get off the mark. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Vaughan. Darren Gough broke the 0ne-run stand.

Dravid, whose 92-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 52. His half-century – which came off 84 balls – included 38 singles, in addition to the boundaries. Eight balls later, he was caught by Collingwood. Harmison broke the two-run stand.

Kumble had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just five. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Wharf. Gough broke the 11-run stand. India scored 200 off 48.4 overs. While Irfan Pathan was batting on 12 at that point, Nehra hadn’t opened his account.

Pathan, who faced 17 balls, eventually scored 14. Wharf was in seventh heaven, because he broke the nine-run stand. Nehra, who faced a couple of balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten.

England conceded 19 extras. India were dismissed for 204 off 49.3 overs. Collingwood and Vaughan bowled five wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 29, the latter conceded 23. Giles, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 43. He picked up a wicket.

Wharf, who bowled 9.3 overs, conceded 41. He picked up a couple of wickets, as did Gough, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 41. Harmison, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 22. He picked up four scalps.

Marcus Trescothick, who faced five balls, scored a run. Eight balls into the chase, he was caught by Laxman. Nehra broke the five-run stand. Vikram Solanki, whose 12-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored nine. Fifteen balls later, he was caught by Harbhajan. Nehra broke the 17-run stand.

Andrew Strauss, who faced four balls, scored a couple. Fifteen balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan, who broke the five-run stand. McGrath, who faced eight balls, scored a couple. Fourteen balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan, who broke the two-run stand.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 19. Collingwood, who faced 20 balls, scored four. Forty-three balls later, Kaif and Karthik ran him out. England scored 50 off 17 overs. While Vaughan was batting on 29 at that point, Jones had scored half-a-dozen.

Jones, whose nine-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 11. Twenty balls later, he was caught by Sehwag. Harbhajan broke the 14-run stand. England scored 100 off 28.4 overs. While Vaughan was batting on 45 at that point, Giles was batting on 14. 

Vaughan’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 100 balls. England scored 150 off 41.5 overs. While Vaughan was batting on 73 at that point, Giles was batting on 36.

Giles, whose 62-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 39. A hundred and forty-four balls later, he was caught by Harbhajan, who broke the 92-run partnership.

Vaughan, whose 141-ball innings included eight boundaries, eventually scored 74. Five balls later, he was stumped by Karthik. Harbhajan broke the 0ne-run stand. Wharf, whose 15-ball innings included a six, scored nine. Thirteen balls later, he was caught by Karthik. Yuvraj broke the 11-run stand.

Gough, whose eight-ball innings included a six, scored 10. Thirteen balls later, Nehra broke the 15-run stand. Although he was unbeaten, Harmison had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just four.

India scored 16 extras. England, who were dismissed for 181 off 48.2 overs, lost by 23 runs. Sehwag, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 24. He was wicketless, as was the (Kumb)leggie, who bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 36. Yuvraj, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 24. He picked up a wicket.

Pathan, who bowled nine overs, conceded 32. He picked up a couple of wickets. Nehra, who bowled 7.2 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 26, picking up three wickets. Harbhajan bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 28, picking up three scalps.

The Englishmen won the three-match series 2-1.

   

Ganguly-led India concE(nglan)de the series

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Anil Kumble and Ashish Nehra made way for Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh. England made no changes to the eleven that last played the Indians.

On winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, inserted the hosts, whose openers, Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki put on 50 off 57 balls in 37 minutes. The half-century partnership included seven boundaries. While Trescothick was batting at that point, Solanki was batting on 20.

Trescothick, whose 41-ball innings included five boundaries, eventually scored 27. Sixty-nine balls into the match, he was caught by Lakshmipathy Balaji. Harbhajan Singh broke the 71-run partnership.

Michael Vaughan, England’s skipper, scored four off a dozen balls. His runs came by way of a boundary. Twenty-two balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid. Harbhajan broke the run-a-ball stand. Andrew Strauss, who faced nine balls, scored a couple. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Ganguly. Virender Sehwag broke the five-run stand. 

England’s 100 – which included 14 boundaries – came off 120 balls in 85 minutes. Solanki, whose 56-ball innings included eight boundaries, eventually scored 48. Twenty-one balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Needless to say, Sehwag was in seventh heaven.

They had scored 135 for the loss of four wickets in the 30^th over. Paul Collingwood, who had scored a dozen at that point, was dropped by Mohammad Kaif off the bowling of Harbhajan.

England’s 150 – which included 18 boundaries and a six – came off 213 balls in 135 minutes. Collingwood and Andrew, the player of the match put on 50 for the fifth-wicket (Flint)off 83 balls in 45 minutes. While the former was batting on 33 at that point, the latter was batting on 20.

Their 200 – which included 25 boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 250 balls in 159 minutes. Flintoff’s half-century – which included five boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 66 balls in 97 minutes. He and Collingwood put on 100 off 116 balls. The latter’s 50 – which included eight boundaries – came off 62 balls in 75 minutes.

England had scored 245 for the loss of four wickets in the 45^th over. Flintoff, who was batting on 80 at that point, was dropped by Balaji off the bowling of Irfan Pathan. They scored 250 off 45 overs. Flintoff and Collingwood put on 150 off as many balls.

Flintoff, whose 93-ball innings included nine boundaries and four sixes, eventually scored 99. A hundred and sixty-two balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Agarkar broke the 174-run partnership, which was an England record for the fifth wicket.  

England’s 300 – which included 34 boundaries and five sixes – came off 314 balls in 202 minutes. Collingwood, whose 85-ball innings included 11 boundaries, eventually scored 79. He was unbeaten, as was Geraint Jones, who scored a dozen. His six-ball innings included a boundary and a six.

India conceded 36 extras. England scored 307 for the loss of five wickets off 50 overs. Yuvraj Singh and Rohan Gavaskar bowled three wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 23, the latter conceded 18. Balaji, who bowled eight wicketless overs, conceded 77. Pathan bowled 10 wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 58.

Agarkar, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 60. He picked up a wicket. Sehwag and Harbhajan bowled 10 overs each, picking up a couple of scalps apiece. While the former conceded 51, the latter, whose spell included a couple of maidens, conceded 14.

Play resumed at 3pm (2pm GMT). Sehwag, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t get off the mark. A couple of balls into the chase, he was trapped leg before wicket by Darren Gough, who broke the two-run stand.

The second-wicket pair put on eight. Although his 10-ball innings included a boundary, Ganguly had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 17 balls later, Flintoff ran him out. 

India’s 50 – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 66 balls in 48 minutes. V V S Laxman and Kaif put on 50 for the third wicket off 44 balls in 35 minutes. While the former was batting on 18 at that point, the latter was batting on 21.

Laxman, whose 43-ball innings included five boundaries, eventually scored 33. Eighty-seven balls later, he was caught by Collingwood. Ashley Giles broke the 89-run partnership.

Their 100 – which included 14 boundaries – came off 89 balls in 119 minutes. Dravid, who faced eight balls, scored a run. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Jones. Alex Wharf broke the three-run stand.

Kaif, whose 73-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 51. His half-century – which included eight boundaries – came off 68 balls in 91 minutes. Twenty-two balls after Dravid’s dismissal, he was caught by Vaughan. Giles broke the 11-run stand.

Gavaskar, whose 17-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 13. Thirty-four balls later, Giles broke the 30-run stand. Yuvraj, whose 40-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 24. Twenty-seven balls later, he was caught by Vaughan. Gough broke the 26-run stand.

The eighth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Pathan, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Vaughan off the bowling of Gough. Agarkar, whose 20-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes, scored 22. Ten balls later, he was caught by Trescothick. Gough broke the four-run stand.

India’s 200 – which included 23 boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 255 balls in 177 minutes. The tenth-wicket pair (Harbhajan and Balaji) put on 50 off 49 balls in 34 minutes. While the former scored 31, the latter scored 15.

Harbhajan eventually scored 41. His 39-ball innings included five boundaries and a six. He was unbeaten, Balaji, whose 30-ball innings included a boundary, scored 18. Sixty-two balls later, Flintoff broke the 64-run stand (which wasn’t just the record for the highest last-wicket partnership for India, but also the record last-wicket partnership for India against England).

England conceded 27 extras. India, who were bundled out for 237 off 46.3 overs, lost by 70 runs. Vaughan bowled five overs, conceding 32. He was wicketless, as was Steve Harmison, who bowled eight overs, conceding 51.

Wharf bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceding 36. He picked up a wicket, as did Flintoff, who bowled 7.3 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 31. Giles bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 26, picking up three wickets. Gough bowled 10 overs, conceding 50. He picked up four scalps.

England led the three-match series 2-0.

  

The Englishmen trounce Ganguly-led India

While Ajit Agarkar was India’s twelfth man, Gareth Batty was England’s twelfth man. While India made no changes to their playing eleven, England made seven changes to their playing eleven – Nick Knight, Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, Craig White, Ronnie Irani, Andrew Caddick and James Anderson made way for Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, One-day International debutant Alex Wharf (the player of the match), Darren Gough and Steve Harmison.

On winning the toss, Michael Vaughan, England’s skipper, inserted the Indians. Virender Sehwag, who faced a dozen balls, scored four. Three overs into the match, he was caught by Vaughan. Gough broke the 10-run stand.

India scored 50 off 9.2 overs. Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, and V V S Laxman were both batting on 22 at that point. The former eventually scored 24. His 31-ball innings included four boundaries. Fifty-three balls later, he was caught by Jones, who was born in Papua New Guinea. Wharf broke the 52-run partnership. Laxman eventually scored 29. His 35-ball innings included four boundaries. Ten balls later, he was caught by Jones. Wharf broke the one-run stand.

Rahul Dravid, whose 16-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 13. Fifteen balls later, he was caught by Gough. Wharf broke the 17-run stand. The fifth-wicket pair scored nine. Yuvraj Singh, who bowled half-a-dozen balls, scored four. His runs came by way of a boundary. Fourteen balls later, Giles and Jones ran him out.

India scored 100 off 24.5 overs. While Mohammad Kaif was batting on 14 at that point, Rohan Gavaskar was batting on four. The latter, who faced 49 balls, scored 20. Eighty-two balls later, he was caught by Paul Collingwood. Andrew Flintoff broke the 40-run stand. Irfan Pathan, who faced 14 balls, scored three. Five overs later, he was caught by Giles, who broke the 14-run stand.

India scored 150 off 39.1 overs. While Kaif was batting on 40 at that point, Anil Kumble was batting on three. The former’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 78 balls. His innings lasted 79 balls. Thirty-nine balls later, he was caught by Jones. Harmison broke the 27-run stand. Kumble, who faced 22 balls, eventually scored nine. He was unbeaten.

Lakshmipathy Balaji, who faced a ball, didn’t get off the mark. A ball after Kaif’s dismissal, he was caught by the Lancashire all-rounder (Flint)off the bowling of Harmison. Ashish Nehra, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was caught by Harmison off his bowling. It was the 19^th instance of a hat-trick in One-day Internationals, and the second by an Englishman (Anderson was the first. He achieved the feat against Pakistan in 2003).

England conceded 14 extras. India were bundled out for 170 off 43.5 overs. Collingwood, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded 11. Gough bowled seven overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 29, picking up a wicket. Flintoff, who bowled eight overs, conceded 28. He picked up a wicket.

Giles, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 25, He picked up a wicket. Wharf, who bowled eight overs, conceded 30. He picked up three scalps, as did Harmison, who bowled 8.5 overs, conceding 41.

England scored 50 off 10.5 overs. While Marcus Trescothick was batting on 29 at that point, Solanki – was born in Udaipur, Rajasthan – was batting on 17. The former, whose 40-ball innings included seven boundaries, scored 33. Seventy-one balls into the chase, he was caught by Yuvraj. Balaji broke the 63-run partnership. Vaughan had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he didn’t get off the mark. Thirteen balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Balaji, who broke the two-run stand.

England scored 100 off 23.2 overs. While Solanki was batting on 38, Strauss was batting on 21. They put on 50 for the third wicket off 62 balls. Solanki, whose 75-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 52. His 50 – which included eight boundaries – came off 74 balls. Seventy-six balls, he was trapped leg before by Pathan, who broke the 63-run partnership.

England scored 150 off 30 overs. While Strauss was batting on 34, Flintoff was batting on 22. Strauss, who 52-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, eventually scored 41. He was unbeaten, as was Flintoff, who eventually scored 34. His 23-ball innings included a boundary and three sixes. India conceded 11 extras. England, who scored 171 for the loss of three wickets off 32.2 overs, won by seven wickets off 106 balls to spare.

Nehra, who bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceded 23. Kumble, who bowled 6.2 wicketless overs, conceded 57. Pathan, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 53. He picked up a wicket. Balaji bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 37, picking up a couple of scalps.

The Englishmen led the three-match series 1-0.   

Sourav-led India rue the w‘A(u)s’hout

It was reduced to a 32-overs-a-side match. India made just one change to their playing eleven – Ajit Agarkar made way for Ashish Nehra.

Australia made five changes to the (Micha)eleven that last playing the Indians – Adam Gilchrist, Simon Katich, Ian Harvey, Jason Gillespie and Brad Williams made way for Brad Haddin, Darren Lehmann, Brad Hogg, Kasprowicz and Glenn McGrath.

On winning the toss, Ricky Ponting, Australia’s skipper, chose to bat. Haddin, who faced 13 balls, scored five. Four overs into the match, he was caught by Lakshmipathy Balaji. Ashish Nehra broke the 23-run stand.

Australia scored 50 off 8.4 overs. While Matthew Hayden was batting on 20 at that point, Ponting was batting on 16. India had conceded nine extras at that point. Hayden, whose 49-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 29. Sixty-three balls later, he was caught by Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper. Balaji broke the 46-run stand.

Ponting, whose 28-ball innings included a boundary and the only six of the innings, scored 26. Three balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Balaji, who broke the one-run stand.

Andrew Symonds, whose run-a-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored a dozen. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid. Anil Kumble broke the 13-run stand. Damien Martyn, whose 17-ball innings included a boundary, scored a dozen. Twenty-seven balls later, Virender Sehwag broke the 18-run stand.

Lehmann, who faced 29 balls, scored 19. Thirty-two balls later, he was caught by Rohan Gavaskar. Kumble broke the 37-run stand. Michael Clarke, whose 28-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 42. Twenty-one balls later, he was caught by Sehwag. Balaji broke the 31-run stand.

Hogg, who faced 14 balls, scored 17. He was unbeaten, as was Brett Lee, who faced a ball, scoring a run. India eventually conceded a dozen extras. Australia scored 175 for the loss of seven wickets off 31.4 overs. Irfan Pathan bowled 6.4 wicketless overs, conceding 34.

Nehra and Sehwag bowled half-a-dozen overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 44, the latter conceded 35. Kumble, who bowled seven overs, conceded 37. He picked up two wickets. Balaji, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 20. He picked up three scalps.

Owing to the rain interruption, India couldn’t bat, and the match was abandoned.

The Indians were knocked out.

The iSLanderS(our)avenge loss to India

India made a couple of their playing (Pat)eleven – Parthiv and Anil Kumble made way for V V S Laxman and Ashish Nehra. Sri Lanka made a couple of changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Saman Jayantha and Lasith Malinga made way for Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan.

On winning the toss, Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka’s skipper (and the player of the match), chose to bat. Jayasuriya, whose 20-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 15. (Sana)Thirty-seven balls into the match, he was trapped leg before wicket by Irfan Pathan, who broke the 28-run stand.

Avishka Gunawardene, whose 22-ball innings included a boundary, scored eight. Eight balls later, he was caught by Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper. Nehra broke the three-run stand.

Sri Lanka scored 50 off 11.1 overs. While Atapattu was batting on 14 at that point, Kumar Sangakkara had scored half-a-dozen. They scored 100 off 22.5 overs. While Atapattu was batting on 32 at that point, Sangakkara was batting on 33.

Sangakkara’s 50 – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 72 balls. He eventually scored 53 off 82 balls. A hundred and forty-eight balls later, Virender Sehwag broke the 116-run partnership. Atapattu’s 50 – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 69 balls.

Sri Lanka scored 150 off 33.1 overs. While Atapattu was batting on 55 at that point, Jayawardene hadn’t open his account. The (Mahe)latter, who faced half-a-dozen balls, didn’t get off the mark. Seven balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj Singh. Sachin Tendulkar broke the three-run stand.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 24. Atapattu, whose 87-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 65. Thirty-five balls later, Sehwag and Tendulkar ran him out. Tillakaratne Dilshan, who faced 35 balls, scored 22. Twenty-four balls later, he was stumped by Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar broke the 20-run stand.

Sri Lanka scored 200 off 44.1 overs. While Upul Chandana was batting on eight at that point, Farveez Maharoof had scored half-a-dozen. Chandana, who faced 13 balls, didn’t add to his score. Eight balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan Singh, who broke the run-a-ball stand.

The eighth-wicket pair put on 11. Maharoof, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary, scored eventually nine. A dozen balls later, Yuvraj ran him out. Vaas, who faced 16 balls, scored half-a-dozen. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. Pathan broke the six-run stand.

Nuwan Zoysa, who faced eight balls, scored half-a-dozen. He was unbeaten, as was Muralitharan, who faced five balls, scoring four. India conceded 32 extras. Sri Lanka scored 228 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs. Zaheer Khan, who bowled seven wicketless overs, scored 35.

Nehra, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 22. He picked up a wicket. Harbhajan and Sehwag bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 48, the latter, whose spell included a couple of maidens, conceded 32.

Pathan, who bowled seven overs, conceded 33. He picked up a couple of scalps, as did Tendulkar, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 40.

Sehwag, whose 12-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Seventeen balls into the chase, he was trapped leg before wicket by Vaas, who broke the 15-run stand. Ganguly, who faced 20 balls, scored four. Twenty-nine balls later, he was caught by Jayawardene. Zoysa broke the 11-run stand.

India scored 50 off 15.2 overs. While Tendulkar was batting on 27 at that point, Laxman was batting on nine. The latter, whose 34-ball innings included a boundary, eventually scored a dozen. Seventy-two balls later, he was caught by Dilshan. Jayasuriya broke the 36-run stand.

Dravid, who faced 28 balls, scored 16. Forty-two balls later, he was caught by Dilshan. Chandana broke the 34-run stand. India scored 100 off 27.5 overs. While Tendulkar was batting on 51 at that point, Yuvraj was batting on a couple. The former’s half-century – which included five boundaries and a six – came off 68 balls.

Yuvraj, who faced 29 balls, eventually scored just eight. Forty-five balls later, Chandana broke the 23-run stand. Mohammad Kaif, who faced 15 balls, scored five. Twenty-eight balls later, he was caught by Jayawardene. Chandana broke the 16-run stand.

Tendulkar eventually scored 74. His 100-ball innings included seven boundaries and a six. Three balls later, Dilshan broke the five-run stand. The eighth-wicket pair had no reason to be in seventh heaven. Pathan, who faced four balls, scored a couple. Sixteen balls later, Vaas and Sangakkara ran him out.

Harbhajan, whose 30-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 16. Thirty-nine balls later, he was stumped by Sangakkara. Jayasuriya broke the 46-run stand. Khan, whose 24-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes, scored 28. He was unbeaten, as was Nehra, who scored eight. His six-ball innings included a boundary.

Sri Lanka conceded 25 extras. India, who scored 203 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs, lost by 25 runs. Maharoof, who faced two overs, conceded 16. He was wicketless, as was Muralitharan, who bowled nine overs, conceding 46.

Dilshan, who bowled four overs, conceded 12. He picked up a wicket. Vaas bowled seven overs, including a maiden. He conceded 24, picking up a wicket. Zoysa bowled eight overs, including two maidens. He conceded 18, picking up a wicket.

Jayasuriya, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 34. He picked up a couple of wickets. Chandana, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 33. He picked up three scalps.

Sri Lanka won the 2004 Asia Cup.

The hostSLose to Dada-led India

India made just one change to their playing (Pat)eleven – Lakshmipathy Balaji made way for Parthiv. Sri Lanka made a couple of changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan made way for Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga.

On winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, chose to bat. Tendulkar, whose 21-ball (Sach)innings included three boundaries, scored 18. Forty balls into the match, he was trapped leg before wicket by Nuwan Zoysa, who broke the 34-run stand.

India scored 50 off 10.5 overs. While Virender Sehwag, the player of the match, was batting on 22 at that point, Ganguly hadn’t opened his account. They scored 100 off 21.1 overs. While Sehwag was batting on 48, Ganguly was batting on 19. The former’s half-century – which included four boundaries and a six – scored 67.

India scored 150 off 29.5 overs. While Sehwag was batting on 73 at that point, Ganguly was batting on 43. The former eventually scored 81. His 92-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and a couple of sixes. A hundred and fifty-five balls later, he was caught by Kumar Sangakkara. Jayasuriya broke the 134-run partnership.

Rahul Dravid had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just a run. Eight balls later, he was caught by Sangakkara. Farveez Maharoof broke the one-run stand. India scored 200 off 38.5 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 61 at that point, Yuvraj Singh was batting on 20.

Ganguly eventually scored 79. His 120-ball innings included nine boundaries. Seventy balls later, he was caught by Upul Chandana. Malinga broke the 71-run partnership. The fifth-wicket pair put on eight. Mohammad Kaif, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Eight balls later, Saman Jayantha ran him out.

Yuvraj eventually scored 50. His 46-ball innings included four boundaries. Five balls later, he was caught by Avishka Gunawardene. Needless to say, Malinga was in seventh heaven. Patel, whose 10-ball innings included a boundary, scored 13. He was unbeaten, as was Irfan Pathan, who faced half-a-dozen balls, scoring eight.

Sri Lanka conceded 20 extras. India scored 271 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 50 overs. Jayantha, who bowled three wicketless overs, conceded 19. Chandana, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 42. Tillakaratne Dilshan, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 49.

Jayasuriya, who bowled four overs, conceded 17. He picked up a wicket. Zoysa and Maharoof bowled eight overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 49, the latter conceded 37. Malinga, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 56. He picked up a couple of scalps.

Although Gunawardene’s 11-ball innings included a six, he had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 20 balls into the chase, he was caught by Pathan. Zaheer Khan broke the run-a-ball stand.

Jayantha, whose 13-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Eighteen balls later, he was caught by Patel. Pathan broke the 16-run stand. Sri Lanka scored 50 off 7.3 overs. While Jayasuriya was batting on 25 at that point, Marvan Atapattu, their skipper, hadn’t opened his account.

The latter eventually scored eight. His 23-ball innings included a boundary. Forty-eight balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. Harbhajan Singh broke the 40-run stand. Sri Lanka scored 100 off 19 overs. While Jayasuriya was batting on 50 at that point, Sangakkara was batting on 14. The former’s 50 – which included eight boundaries – came off 49 balls.

Sangakkara eventually scored 15. His 20-ball innings included a boundary. Thirty-two balls after Atapattu’s dismissal, he was caught by Tendulkar. Sehwag broke the 27-run stand. Jayawardene, whose 27-ball innings included a six, scored 18. Forty balls (Mahe)later, Tendulkar broke the 31-run stand.

Sri Lanka scored 150 off 29.1 overs. While Jayasuriya was batting on 72 at that point, Dilshan was batting on seven. The former’s century – which included 11 boundaries and a six – came off 95 balls. Sri Lanka scored 200 off 36.1 overs. While Jayasuriya was batting on 104 at that point, Dilshan was batting on 23.

Dilshan eventually scored 39. His 46-ball innings included three boundaries. A hundred and five balls later, Sehwag broke the 103-run partnership. Jayasuriya, whose 132-ball innings included 14 boundaries and a six, scored 130. Twenty balls later, he was caught by Sehwag, who broke the 17-run stand.

Upul Chandana, who faced 19 balls, scored 11. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. Needless to say, Pathan was in seventh heaven. Maharoof, who faced five balls, scored four. Four balls later, Zaheer broke the five-run stand. Zoysa, who faced three balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten, as was Malinga, who faced a ball, scoring a run.

India conceded 26 extras. Sri Lanka, who scored 267 for the loss of nine wickets off 50 overs, lost by four runs. Kumble, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 51. Tendulkar, who bowled three overs, conceded 23. He picked up a wicket, as did Harbhajan, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 41.

Khan bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 63, picking up a couple of wickets. Pathan, who bowled nine overs, conceded 34, He picked up a couple of wickets. Sehwag, who bowled nine overs, conceded 37. He picked up three scalps.

Dada-led India rout the Bangladeshis

India made three changes to their playing (Pat)eleven – Parthiv, Zaheer Khan and Anil Kumble made way for V V S Laxman, Ashish Nehra and Harbhajan Singh.

Bangladesh made four changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Mehrab Hossain, Javed Omar, Akram Khan and Tapash Baisya made way for Rajin Saleh, Faisal Hossain, Manjural Islam Rana* and Abdur Razzak.

On winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, inserted the Bangladeshis, whose skipper, Habibul Bashar, faced 10 balls, scoring a couple. Sixteen balls into the match, Irfan Pathan broke the 10-run stand.

The second-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Saleh, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan.

Bangladesh scored 50 off 11.2 overs. While Mohammad Ashraful was batting on 19 at that point, Kapali was batting on 10. Kapali, whose 25-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 10. Fifty-nine balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid. Nehra broke the 46-run stand.

Hossain, whose 34-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 17. Sixty-balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Harbhajan, who broke the 36-run stand. The fifth-wicket pair D(rav)idn’t get off the mark. Ashraful, whose 69-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 35. The next ball, Yuvraj Singh and the wicketkeeper ran him out.

Bangladesh scored 100 off 28.3 overs. While Khaled Mashud was batting on five at that point, Rana was batting on three. Mashud, who faced 28 balls, eventually scored a dozen. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Sachin Tendulkar, the player of the match, broke the 25-run stand.

The seventh-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Mohammad Rafique, who faced three balls, didn’t open his account. Three balls later, he was dismissed by Tendulkar. Rana, whose 56-ball innings included a boundary, scored 21. Forty-eight balls later, Tendulkar broke the 24-run stand.

Bangladesh scored 150 off 43.1 overs. While Razzak was batting on six at that point, Khaled Mahmud was batting on 13. Mahmud, whose 43-ball innings included a boundary, scored 22. Forty-four balls later, he was caught by V V S Laxman. Virender Sehwag broke the 35-run stand.

Razzak, whose 25-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 21. Pathan had a reason to be in seventh heaven – he broke the one-run stand. Tareq Aziz, who faced seven balls, didn’t open his account. He was unbeaten.

India conceded 37 extras. Bangladesh were dismissed for 177 off 49.1 overs. Lakshmipathy Balaji, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 32. Sehwag, who bowled five overs, conceded 24. He picked up a wicket.

Nehra, who bowled nine overs, conceded 26. He picked up a wicket, as did Harbhajan, who bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 20. Pathan, who bowled 8.1 overs, conceded 32. He picked up three scalps, as did Tendulkar, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 35.

Sehwag, whose eight-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 16. Five balls into the chase, he was caught by Kapali. Aziz broke the 19-run stand. Tendulkar, whose 126-ball innings included 10 boundaries and a six, scored 82. He was unbeaten.

Ganguly, whose 100-ball innings included three boundaries and as many sixes, scored 60. Two hundred and nineteen balls later, he was caught by Kapali. Rafique broke the 154-run partnership. Laxman, who faced three balls, scored a run. He was unbeaten.

Bangladesh scored 19 extras. India, who scored 178 for the loss of a couple of wickets off 38.3 overs, won by eight wickets with 69 balls to spare. Rana bowled 6.3 wicketless overs, conceding 22.

Mahmud bowled eight wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 28. Razzak bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceding 40. Aziz bowled seven overs, conceding 49. He picked up a wicket, as did Rafique, who bowled seven overs, including two maidens. He conceded 30.

(*Note: Rana, who was born on May 4, 1984, passed away in a motor accident at the age of 22 on March 16, 2007.)

Ganguly-led India advance aS welL

India made just one change to their playing (Pat)eleven – V V S Laxman made way for Parthiv. Sri Lanka made half-a-dozen Chan(dana)ges to the (Russ)eleven that last played the Indians – Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Aravinda de Silva, Arnold, Prabath Nissanka and Dilhara Fernando made way for Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul, Farveez Maharoof and Nuwan Zoysa.

On winning the toss, Marvan Atapattu, Sri Lanka’s skipper, chose to bat. They scored 50 off 10.5 overs. While Jayantha was batting on 28 at that point, Gunawardene was batting on 14. India had conceded eight extras at that point. Jayantha, whose 39-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, scored 34. Eighty-one balls into the match, he was caught by Patel. Lakshmipathy Balaji broke the 63-run partnership.

Sri Lanka scored 100 off 20.4 overs. While Gunawardene was batting on 39 at that point, Atapattu was batting on 14. India had conceded 13 extras at that point. The second-wicket pair put on 65. Gunawardene, whose 79-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 49. Eighty-two balls into the match, Patel and Anil Kumble ran him out.

Sri Lanka scored 150 off 31 overs. While Atapattu was batting on 46 at that point, Kumar Sangakkara was batting on one. India had conceded 20 extras at that point. The third-wicket pair put on 28. Atapattu, whose 75-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 50. He batted for 81 minutes. Thirty-nine balls into the match, Yuvraj Singh and Kumble ran him out.

Sri Lanka scored 200 off 40.1 overs. While Sangakkara was batting on 27 at that point, Mahela Jayawardene was batting on 18. India had conceded 22 extras at that point. They scored 250 off 46.2 overs. While Sangakkara was batting on 48 at that point, Jayawardene was batting on 44. India had conceded 26 extras at that point.

Sangakkara eventually scored 57. His 54-ball innings included three boundaries and a six. His 50 came off 49 balls. Eighty-eight balls later, he was caught by Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper. Irfan Pathan broke the 116-run partnership.

Jayawardene eventually scored 58. His 49-ball innings included three boundaries and a six. His 50 – which included a couple of boundaries and the six – came off 45 balls in 54 minutes. He was unbeaten, as was Dilshan, who had a reason to be in seventh heaven – his eight-ball innings included a boundary.

India eventually conceded 27 extras. Sri Lanka scored 282 for the loss of four wickets off 50 overs. Ganguly, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded 15. Yuvraj, who bowled three wicketless overs, conceded 17. Virender Sehwag, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 45.

Zaheer Khan, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 39. Kumble bowled 10 wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 46. Balaji bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 60, picking up a wicket. Pathan, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 49. He picked up a wicket.

Tendulkar, whose 13-ball (Sach)innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 11. Twenty-three balls into the chase, he was caught by Jayantha. Nuwan Zoysa, the player of the match, broke the 16-run stand. Patel, who faced 16 balls, scored half-a-dozen. Twenty balls later, he was caught by Sangakkara. Zoysa broke the 17-run stand.

India scored 50 off 9.3 overs. While Sehwag was batting on 25 at that point, Ganguly hadn’t opened his account. Sri Lanka had conceded eight extras at that point. The third-wicket pair put on 38. Sehwag, whose 39-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 37. Thirty-nine balls after Patel’s dismissal, Zoysa ran him out.

The fourth-wicket pair didn’t open its account. Ganguly, whose 16-ball innings included a boundary, scored four. Three balls later, he was caught by Muttiah Muralitharan off the bowling of Zoysa.

India scored 100 off 24 overs. While Yuvraj was batting on 10 at that point, Rahul Dravid was batting on 11. Sri Lanka had conceded 19 extras at that point. They scored 150 off 32 overs. While Yuvraj was batting on 27 at that point, Dravid was batting on 36. Sri Lanka had conceded 27 extras at that point.

India scored 200 off 40.1 overs. While Yuvraj was batting on 47 (his eventual score) at that point, Dravid was batting on 66. Sri Lanka had conceded 30 extras at that point. Yuvraj’s 78-ball innings included four boundaries. A hundred and fifty-eight balls later, he was caught by Sangakkara. Chaminda Vaas broke the 133-run partnership.

Dravid, whose 100-ball innings included eight boundaries and a six, scored 82. Thirty balls later, Muralitharan broke the run-a-ball stand. Mohammad Kaif, whose 21-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 22. Eight balls later, Maharoof broke the nine-run stand.

Pathan, whose 12-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 15. He was unbeaten. Balaji, who faced nine balls, scored 10. Fifteen balls later, he was caught by Sangakkara. Vaas broke the 23-run stand. Zaheer, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t get off the mark. He was unbeaten.

Sri Lanka eventually scored 34 extras. India, who scored 270 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs, lost by 12 runs. Jayantha bowled two wicketless overs, conceding seven. Dilshan bowled three wicketless overs, conceding 25. Chandana bowled five wicketless overs, conceding 39.

Maharoof and Muralitharan bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. They conceded 46 apiece. Vaas bowled 10 overs, conceding 51. He picked up a couple of wickets. Zoysa bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 49, picking up three scalps.

Ganguly-led India beat the UAE

It was India’s first match for the 2004 season, and they made just one change to their playing eleven – Murali Kartik made way for Anil Kumble.

The United Arab Emirates (Poonawa)last played the Indians a decade earlier. Needless to say, the eleven that played that match (Riaz, Azhar Saeed, Mazhar Hussain, Vijay Mehra, Ishaq, Saleem Raza, Johanne Samarasekera, Arshad Laeeq, Sultan Zarawani, Imtiaz Abbasi and Sohail Butt) (Moham)made way for One-day International debutants Asim Saeed, Arshad Ali, Fahad Usman, Naeemuddin Aslam, Khurram Khan (who was leading the team), Syed Maqsood, Asghar Ali, Mohammad Tauqir, Abdul Rehman, Ali Asad and Rizwan Latif.

On winning the toss, Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper, chose to bat. India’s openers didn’t get off the mark. Virender Sehwag, who faced three balls, didn’t open his account. Three balls into the match, the Dubai-born Aslam ran him out.

Tendulkar, whose 25-ball (Sach)innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 18. Forty-four balls later, he was caught by Fahad Usman, who was born in Karachi. The Al Ain-born Saeed broke the 30-run stand. Incidentally, the Little Master remains his only victim to date at the international level.

India scored 50 off 13.1 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 20 at that point, V V S Laxman was batting on six. The latter eventually scored just 14. His 21-ball innings included a boundary and the only six off the innings. Fifty-two balls later, he was caught by Tauqir – the only Emirati in the team – who broke the 35-run stand.

India scored 100 off 24.2 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 36 at that point, Rahul Dravid, the player of the match, was batting on 22. The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 67 balls. Dravid’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 49 balls. Ganguly’s half-century – which included a couple of boundaries – came off 93 balls. 

India scored 150 off 33.3 overs. While Ganguly was batting on 53 at that point, Dravid was batting on 55. Ganguly, who faced 102 balls, scored 56. A hundred and ten balls later, he was caught by Aslam. Latif – who was born in Karachi, and never represented the UAE again – broke the 88-run partnership.

Yuvraj Singh, whose 25-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 22. Forty-three balls later, Khurram – who was born in Multan, and moved to the UAE to work for Emirates Airlines as a flight purser – broke the 42-run stand.

India scored 200 off 42.4 overs. While Dravid was batting on 79 at that point, Mohammad Kaif was batting on a run. The former’s ton – which included seven boundaries – came off 90 balls.

India scored 250 off 49.1 overs. While Dravid was batting on 100 at that point, Mohammad Kaif was batting on 27. The former eventually scored 104. His 93-ball innings included eight boundaries. Forty-five balls later, Latif broke the 59-run partnership.

Kaif eventually scored 31. His 30-ball innings included a couple of boundaries. He was unbeaten, as was Irfan Pathan, who faced a ball, scoring a run. The UAE conceded 14 extras. India scored 260 for the loss of six wickets off 50 overs.

The India-born Maqsood bowled four overs, conceding 24. He was wicketless, as was the Lahore-born Asad, who bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 38. Saeed, who bowled seven overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 25, picking up a wicket.

Khurram and Tauqir bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 48, the latter conceded 46. Latif, who bowled nine overs, conceded 69. He picked up a couple of scalps.

The Sialkot-born Arshad, who faced a couple of balls, D(rav)idn’t open his account. Five balls into the chase, he was caught behind. Pathan broke the one-run stand. Saeed, whose 17-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored a dozen. Twenty-three balls later, he was caught by Kaif. Pathan broke the 25-run stand.

The third-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Naeemuddin Aslam, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan. Usman, who faced 13 balls, scored nine. Five balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Lakshmipathy Balaji, who faced the three-run stand.

Khurram, whose 12-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. A dozen balls later, Balaji had a reason to be in seventh heaven – he was trapped leg before wicket. Maqsood, whose 19-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Thirty balls later, he was caught by Laxman. Zaheer Khan broke the nine-run stand.

The UAE scored 50 off 14.4 overs. While Asghar – who was born in Kasur, Pakistan – wats batting on three at that point. Tauqir was batting on a couple. The former eventually scored 14. His 48-ball innings included a boundary. Seventy-six balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by the (Kumb)leggie, who broke the 52-run partnership.

The UAE scored 100 off 26.2 overs. While Tauqir was batting on 32 at that point, Rehman – who was born in Ajman, and never represented the UAE again – was batting on one. The latter, who faced 13 balls, didn’t add to his score. Thirty balls later, Tendulkar broke the 24-run stand.

Tauqir, whose 73-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 55. Twenty-six balls later, he was stumped by Dravid. Tendulkar broke the 23-run stand. Asad, whose 14-ball innings included a boundary, scored nine. He was unbeaten.

The last-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Latif, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Laxman off the bowling of Tendulkar. India conceded 34 extras.  The UAE, who were dismissed for 144 off 35 overs, lost by 116 runs. Kumble bowled seven overs, including a maiden. He conceded 16, picking up a wicket.

Zaheer bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 42, picking up a wicket. Balaji bowled eight overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 28, picking up a couple of wickets. Tendulkar, who bowled four overs, conceded 21. He picked up three scalps, as did Pathan, who bowled eight overs, conceding 28.

Australia’S(oura)victory over India is convincing

While the innings of the team batting first commenced at 2:15pm, it concluded at 5:45pm. The chase commenced at 6:30pm and concluded at 10pm.

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble made way for Murali Kartik and Ashish Nehra. Australia made no changes to the eleven that last played the Indians.

While Sanjay Bangar was India’s twelfth man, Brad Hogg was Australia’s twelfth man. On winning the toss, Ricky Ponting, Australia’s skipper, chose to bat.

Adam Gilchrist, the player of the series, scored 29. His 32-ball innings included four boundaries. He and Matthew Hayden, the player of the match, put on 50 off 7.2 overs for the first wicket in 31 minutes. Nine overs into the match, he was caught by Sourav Ganguly, India’s skipper. Nehra broke the 62-run partnership.

Ponting, who faced nine balls, scored four. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid. Irfan Pathan broke the 11-run stand.

While Australia scored 100 off 15.2 overs in 71 minutes, they scored 150 off 26.3 overs in 113 minutes and 200 off 32.4 overs in 138 minutes.

The third-wicket pair (Hayden and Damien Martyn) put on 50 off 67 balls in 50 minutes, 1o0 off 107 balls in 73 minutes and 150 off 152 balls in 102 minutes.

Martyn, whose 76-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 67. His 50 – which included three boundaries – came off 58 balls in 92 minutes. A hundred and sixty-one balls later, he was caught by Hemang Badani. Pathan broke the 157-run partnership.

Hayden, whose 122-ball (Sach)innings included 11 boundaries and three sixes, scored 126. While his half-century – which included eight boundaries and a six – came off 37 balls in 67 minutes, his century – which included nine boundaries and all the sixes – came off 95 balls in 130 minutes. Nineteen balls later, Tendulkar broke the 18-run stand.

While Australia scored 250 off 42.1 overs in 177 minutes, they scored 300 off 45.4 overs in 192 minutes. 

Andrew Symonds, whose 39-ball innings included seven boundaries and three sixes, scored 66. His half-century – which included all the boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 32 balls in 44 minutes. The fifth-wicket pair (Symonds and Michael Clarke) put on 50 off 26 balls in 19 minutes. Forty-seven balls later, Nehra broke the 99-run partnership.

Australia scored 350 off 49.4 overs in 216 minutes. Clarke, whose 20-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 33. He was unbeaten, as was Simon Katich, who scored 11. His four-ball innings included a couple of boundaries.

India conceded 23 extras. Australia scored 359 for the loss of five wickets off 50 overs. Ganguly, who bowled a wicketless overs, conceded nine. Virender Sehwag, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 30. Kartik, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 51.

Lakshmipathy Balaji, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 65. Tendulkar, who bowled eight overs, conceded 60. He picked up a wicket. Pathan and Nehra bowled 0 overs each, picking up a couple of scalps apiece. While the former conceded 75, the latter conceded 63.

Although Sehwag’s innings included a boundary and a six, he had no reason t0 be in seventh heaven – he scored just a dozen. Three overs into the chase, he was caught by Brett Lee. Jason Gillespie broke the 22-run stand.

Tendulkar, whose 40-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 27. Thirty-five balls later, he was caught by Lee. Gillespie broke the 27-run stand. The third-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Although his innings included a boundary, V V S Laxman had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just five. A couple of balls later, he was dismissed by Lee.

India scored 50 off 10.5 overs in 52 balls. The fourth-wicket pair put on three. The Wall, who faced 11 balls, D(rav)idn’t get off the mark. Twenty-two balls after Laxman’s dismissal, Martyn ran him out. Ganguly, who faced 15 balls, scored three. Nine balls later, he was caught by Symonds. Ian Harvey broke the four-run stand.

Yuvraj Singh, who faced 15 balls, scored four. His runs came by way of a boundary. Fifteen balls later, he was caught by Gilchrist. Harvey broke the three-run stand. The seventh-wicket pair put on 40. Badani, whose 27-ball innings included a six, scored 18. Forty-five balls later, Gilchrist and Symonds ran him out.

India scored 100 off 24.3 overs in 119 balls. Pathan, whose 41-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 30. Thirty-two balls later, Lee broke the 24-run stand. Kartik, whose 25-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 23. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Gilchrist. Brad Williams broke the 13-run stand.

India scored 150 off 33 overs in 154 balls. Balaji, who faced 10 balls, scored a couple. Eight balls later, Williams broke the 15-run stand. Nehra, whose four-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 14. He was unbeaten.

Australia conceded 13 extras. India, who were dismissed for 151 off 33.2 overs, lost by 208 runs. Symonds bowled three wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 11. Harvey bowled five overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 30, picking up a couple of scalps.

Williams bowled 6.2 overs, including a maiden. He conceded a dozen, picking up a couple of scalps. Gillespie bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 52, picking up a couple of scalps. Lee bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 39, picking up a couple of scalps. 

The Aussies won the best-of-three finals 2-0.  

Dada returns; Australia crush India

India made three changes to their playing eleven – Rohan Gavaskar, Amit Bhandari and Ashish Nehra made way for Sourav Ganguly (who was leading the team), Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble.

Australia made a couple of changes to the (Micha)eleven that last played the Indians – Hussey and Andy Bichel made way for Ricky Ponting (who was leading the team and was the player of the match) and Ian Harvey.

On winning the toss, Ganguly chose to bat. Virender Sehwag, who faced eight balls, scored three. Seventeen balls into the match, he was caught by Adam Gilchrist. Jason Gillespie broke the six-run stand.

Tendulkar, whose 22-ball (Sach)innings included a boundary, scored eight. Eighteen balls later, Brett Lee broke the eight-run stand. V V S Laxman, whose 25-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 24. Forty-five balls later, he was caught by Andrew Symonds. Brad Williams broke the 34-run stand.

The fourth-wicket pair D(rav)idn’t get off the mark. Rahul, who faced 29 balls, scored a dozen. His runs came by way of boundaries. Seven balls later, (Matt)hewas caught by Hayden off the bowling of Harvey. India scored 50 off 89 balls in 76 minutes.

Ganguly, who faced 21 balls, scored half-a-dozen. Thirty-seven balls later, he was caught by Gilchrist. Harvey broke the 27-run stand. The sixth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Yuvraj Singh, whose run-a-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 21. Three balls later, he was caught by Gilchrist off the bowling of Lee.

While India scored 100 off 176 balls in 137 minutes, they scored 150 off 215 balls in 161 minutes. The seventh-wicket pair (Hemang Badani and Agarkar) put on 50 off 70 balls in 48 minutes and 100 off 110 balls in 70 minutes. Badani, whose 81-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 60. His 50 came off 71 minutes in 101 minutes. He was unbeaten.

Agarkar, whose 62-ball innings included four boundaries and a couple of sixes, scored 53. His half-century came off 62 balls in 76 minutes. A hundred and sixteen balls later, he was caught by Lee. Michael Clarke broke the 102-run partnership.

India scored 200 off 270 balls in 198 minutes. The eighth-wicket pair put on 32. Irfan Pathan, whose run-a-ball innings included a six, scored 19. Thirty-four balls later, Clarke and Gilchrist ran him out. 

The ninth-wicket pair put on eight. Kumble, who faced three balls, scored a couple. Eight balls later, Clarke and Gilchrist ran him out. Lakshmipathy Balaji had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just a couple. Nine balls later, Gillespie broke the five-run stand.

Australia scored 12 extras. India were dismissed for 222 off 49 minutes. Symonds, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 47. Clarke, who bowled three overs, conceded 18. He picked up a wicket, as did Williams bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 38.

Lee, who bowled nine overs, conceded 34. He picked up a couple of wickets. Harvey and Gillespie bowled 10 overs each, picking up a couple of scalps apiece. While the former conceded 40, the latter conceded 39.

Gilchrist, whose 20-ball innings included seven boundaries, scored 38. Thirty-six balls later, he was caught by Tendulkar. Balaji broke the 48-run stand.

While Australia scored 50 off 40 balls in 29 minutes, they scored 100 off 111 balls in 80 minutes, and 150 off 165 balls in 109 minutes. Hayden, whose 91-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 50. He batted for 129 minutes. A hundred and fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Balaji, who broke the 139-run partnership.

The second-wicket pair (Hayden and Ponting) put on 100 off 82 balls in 128 minutes. Ponting, whose 80-ball innings included seven boundaries and a couple of sixes, scored 88. His half-century came off 51 balls in 74 minutes. Sixteen balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Balaji broke the six-run stand.

Australia scored 200 off 213 balls in 150 minutes. Damien Martyn, whose 37-ball innings included a boundary, scored 20. He was unbeaten. Symonds, who faced 15 balls, was unbea‘ten’.

India conceded 18 extras. Australia, who scored for 224 the loss of three wickets off 40.1 overs, won by seven wickets with 59 balls to spare. Ganguly, who bowled a wicketless over, conceded five. Sehwag, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 29. Kumble, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 36.

Pathan, who bowled eight wicketless overs, conceded 36. Agarkar, who bowled 9.1 wicketless overs, conceded 58. Balaji, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 52. He picked up three scalps.

Australia led the best-of-three finals 1-0.

Dravid-led India beat Zimbabwe, advance

The match was attended by just 4,053 people. India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Sourav Ganguly and Murali Kartik made way for Hemang Badani and Amit Bhandari. Zimbabwe made (Hon)do changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Grant Flower and Douglas made way for Stuart Matsikenyeri and Blessing Mahwire.

While Kartik was India’s twelfth man, Hondo was Zimbabwe’s twelfth man. On winning the toss, Heath Streak, Zimbabwe’s skipper, chose to bat. 

Their openers didn’t get off the mark. Vusi Sibanda, who faced four balls, didn’t open his account. Four balls into the match, he was caught by V V S Laxman off the bowling of Irfan Pathan, the player of the match.

Tatenda Taibu, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pathan, who broke the one-run stand. Ebrahim, who faced 22 balls, haD(io)no reason to be in seventh heaven – 34 balls later, he was caught by Laxman. Pathan broke the 10-run stand.

Zimbabwe scored 50 off 13 overs in 61 minutes. The fourth-wicket pair (Stuart Carlisle and Sean Ervine) put on 50 off 54 balls in 42 minutes. They put on 63. Carlisle, whose 46-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 28. Sixty-two balls later, Yuvraj Singh ran him out.

Ervine, whose 32-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 23. Half-a-dozen balls later, he was caught by the substitute, Kartik. Bhandari, who never represented India again, broke the five-run stand.

Streak, whose 12-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Fifteen balls later, he was caught by Laxman. Lakshmipathy Balaji broke the six-run stand.

Zimbabwe scored 100 off 22.5 overs in 101 minutes. Travis Friend, who faced nine balls, scored a run. Nineteen balls later, he was caught by Rohan Gavaskar. Bhandari broke the 18-run stand. Andy Blignaut, who faced five balls, scored a couple. Seventeen balls later, he was caught by Virender Sehwag. Ashish Nehra broke the 11-run stand.

Ray Price, who faced four balls, didn’t get off the mark. Five balls later, he was caught by Laxman. Pathan broke the one-run stand.

Matsikenyeri, whose 46-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 36. Forty-four balls later, he was caught by Rahul Dravid, India’s stand-in skipper. Bhandari broke the 20-run stand. Mahwire, whose 27-ball innings included a boundary, scored eight. He was unbeaten.

India conceded 24 extras. Zimbabwe were bundled out for 135 off 34.4 overs. Nehra bowled seven overs, including a maiden. He conceded 39, picking up a wicket. Balaji bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 32, picking up a wicket.

Bhandari, who bowled 7.4 overs, conceded 31. He picked up three wickets. Pathan bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 24, picking up four scalps.

Tendulkar, who faced eight balls, scored three. Seventeen ballS(ach)into the chase, he was caught by Taibu. Streak broke the 28-run stand. Sehwag, whose 22-ball innings included four balls, scored 23. Eighteen balls later, he was caught by Matsikenyeri. Blignaut broke the six-run stand.

India scored 50 off 10 overs in 48 minutes. Dravid, whose 24-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 10. Thirty-six balls later, Blignaut broke the 27-run stand. Yuvraj, who faced eight balls, scored four. His runs came by way of a boundary. Fifteen balls later, he was caught by Friend. Ervine broke the 12-run stand.

India scored 100 off 21.1 overs in 104 minutes. Laxman, whose 46-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 32. Fifty-one balls later, Ervine broke the 32-run stand. Badani, whose 59-ball innings included five boundaries, scored 34. He was unbeaten.

The sixth-wicket pair put on 10. Gavaskar, who faced 10 balls, scored four. Twenty-three balls later, Matsikenyeri ran him out. Pathan, who faced eight balls, scored three. He was unbeaten.

Zimbabwe conceded 23 extras. India, who scored 136 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 30.3 overs, won by four wickets with 117 balls to spare. Friend, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 24.

Streak bowled seven overs, conceding 36. He picked up a wicket. Ervine bowled 8.3 overs including a couple of maidens. He conceded 29, picking up a couple of wickets. Blignaut, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 41. He picked up a couple of scalps.

India advanced.